Training

Basic Threat Assessment Training

Basic threat assessment training is available in half-day and full-day sessions. Both formats include basic statistics on the prevalence of different types of campus crime, including school shootings; case studies of school shootings, major facts about school shootings, implications for campus safety, basic principles of campus threat assessment, and strategies for enhancing the campus climate. In addition, full-day sessions include key components of effective campus threat assessment; recommended team composition, policies and procedures; steps for investigating and evaluating threats and other concerning behavior; resources and strategies for managing individuals that may pose a threat of harm; establishing key community relationships; sharing information amid FERPA and HIPAA concerns; considerations for public information officers; and case studies of prevented attacks. Basic threat assessment training is appropriate for administrators, counseling center staff, campus law enforcement or security, human resources, support staff, and other campus personnel who are committed to campus safety. Community organizations with student or staff contact can also be included. For newly-formed threat assessment teams or existing teams that are adding a threat assessment capacity, we recommend one or two days of basic training because of the breadth and depth of information covered.

Advanced Threat Assessment Training

Advanced training is offered for established campus threat assessment teams. The training leads the team through one (half-day) or multiple (full-day) table-top exercises on an array of simulated threats, allowing the team the opportunity to handle a threat case(s) from start to finish, hone their roles and responsibilities, and evaluate their procedures and decision-making, all with trainer feedback. In addition to more table-top exercises, full day advanced training also includes discussion of advanced strategies for effective interviewing, red flags for deception in interviewing, and common problems and solutions in implementing campus threat assessment programs.

General Awareness Training

General awareness sessions are offered to help threat assessment teams alert students, faculty, and staff of the array of resources (e.g., the threat assessment team, anonymous reporting mechanisms, counseling services, etc.) that are available to enhance campus safety and to support students and staff that may be in need of some assistance. The training, crafted in consultation with the threat assessment team, can be used to inform campus personnel and students that violent incidents can be prevented, reinforce the message that threat assessment is about prevention and support; and tell them how and where to relay any concerns they may have.